Apparatus for automatically lighting and extinguishing gas-burners



(No Model.) -3 SheetsSheet 1.

. H. SHAW. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIGALLY LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING- GAS BURNERS.

No. 398,271. -.Ja.tented Nov. 20, 1888-.

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I A ys- (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2. N. H. SHAW.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BURNERS.

No. 393,271. M. 3 Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. I N. H. SHAW.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BURNERS- No. 393,271 igiiented N0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL 1L SIIAlV, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN AUTOMATIG GAS- LIGHTING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, lliAlNE. I

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LlGHTlNG AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,271, dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed October 8, 1887. Serial No. 251,853. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL H. SHAW, of Somcrville, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain 5 new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Automatically Lighting and Extinguishing Gas-Burners, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science [0 to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my imr 5 proved apparatus represented as in use; Fig.

2, a like view, one of the dials and the faceplate being removed to show the working parts; Fig. 3, a side elevation, the gas-pipe being shown as broken off; and Fig. 4, a plan view showing certain details of construction.

Like letters of re ferenee i ud icate correspond ing parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates more especially to means for automatically lighting and extinguishing the gas in street-lamps; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a more effective and otherwise desirable device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, A represents the clock,

13 the dynamo or other spark-forming device,

and G the gas-burner.

The clock A furnishes the motive power'for 0 certain part of the mechanism hereinafter referred to; but as it is of the form and construction of ordinary eight day clocks it is not deemed essential to more particularly describe it. The clock and connecting mechanism are 4 5 attached to a supporting-plate, D, by .mcans of which the-apparatus may be secured to a lamp-post or in any other desired position. A bed-plate, E, (see Fig. 2,) is secured to the plate D, and a face-plate, G, supported on the pillars 90, (see Fig. 1,) covers the mechanism, 53 the shafts of which are journaled in the plates G E.

The clock A is preferably disposed at the lower left-hand corner of the plate D, as shown in Fig. 2 A gear, 1?, is disposed on a shaft, (1, journalcd in the plates G E, said gear intermeshing with the barrel-wheel a of the clock, and being provided with such a number of teeth that said barrel-wheel will cause it to make one complete revolution in twenty four hours. J ournaled loosely on the shaft f, disposed directly above the gear b, (see Fig. 3,) there is a gear, 9, which intermeshes with the gear I), and is provided with a corresponding number of teeth. A friction-plate, h, is secured on the shaft f,the ends of said plate pressing against the outer face of the gear 9 and forcing it against the shoulder 95, so that when said gear is revolved the friction-plate will revolve said shaft.

The plate G is provided with a dial, H, (see Fig. 1,) divided into twenty-four equal parts and numbered consecutively from 1 to 2t, the indicating-hands i being disposed on the outer end of the shaft f, which serves as an arbor for said hands.

Between the gear 9 and plate E on the shaft f are loosely jourualcd two worm-gears, k I, (see Fig. 3,) said gears being respectively provided with outwardly-projecting studs m p. The gears k l are separated by a bracket, q, which is rigidly secured by its inner end to the shaft f. Projecting laterally from the outer end of said bracket are arms a, and j ourna'led in parallelism with each other in said arms are two horizontally-arranged worms, 0' it, (see Fig. 4,) which respectively engage the gears Jc Z. The worms 1 t are connected at one end by pinions w, and the worm t provided at the end opposite said pinions with a sprocketwhcel, :v.

A horizontally-arranged bar, 3 is fitted to .slide in ways formed in the plates G E D, said bar being provided with two inwardly-projecting pins, 10 and 11, of such length that when the bracket q is revolved by the shaftf one of the pins 2 on the sprocket-wheel a: will engage one of the pins, 10 or 11, as the case may be, on said bar, and thereby cause the worms rt to revolve. The worms r 1, conwhich is hereinafter described.

The gas-burner C is provided with an ordinary stop-cock or ball-valve, 75, which is operated by a horizontally-arranged shaft, 12, journaled in the plates G E, and having its outer end rigidly secured in a hub, 76, cast on the barrel-wheel J. An actuating device resembling the ordinary striking mechanism of a clock inverted is disposed above the regulating mechanism between the plates G E. The actuating device consists, essentially, of a barrel-wheel, J, gears 96, 21, and 50, and the governor or fan wheel 97. The barrel is mounted on a shaft, 12, and arbor 15, the arbor being disconnected from the shaft and hav ing its inner end journalcd in a step within the barrcl,to enable it to be turned independently of the shaft in windi ng up a s riug,(notshown,) which is disposed within the barrel in the usual manner of clock-springs. The barrel-wheel (see Fig. 3) intermeshcs with a pinion, 98, on the shalt 99 of the gear 96, the gear 96 intermeshes with a pinion, 102, on the shaft 103 of the gear 21, the gear 21. inter-meshes with a pinion, 104, on the shaft 105 of the gear 50, and the gear 50 with apinion, 1.06, on the shaft 107 of the fan-wheel 97. The periphery of the barrel-wheel J is provided with gear-teeth in the ordinary manner, and also with four indentalions, 16, disposed equidistant from each other, as shown in Fig. 2, for receiving the end of the drop-wire 17.

The dynamo B is of the form and construction of ordinary friction-dynamos as found in many electric lamp-lighters, and is actuated by means of a pinion, 19, which intermeshcs with one of the gear-wheels,2l,in the mechanism last referred to. Any other well-known spark-formi ng devicemay be used,if preferred, provided it be so arranged and connected as to operate successfully with the other portions of my device. Two pendulons hook-shaped wires, 28 and 29, are pivoted by means of a rocking shaft, 25, journaled in the plates G and E, said wires being connected by a brace or cross-bar, 26, (see Fig. 3,) and so arranged that the stud m on the worm-gear k will engage the hook 30, Fig. 2, of the wire 28, and the stud p on the worm-gearl engage the book 78 on the wire 29, as said gears are revolved. The drop-wires 17 are secured to a rocking shaft, 35, said shaft being provided with a spring to keep the free end of said wire in engagement with the periphery of the barrelwhcel J. Secured to the shaft 35 there is also an upwardly-projecting curved locking-wire, 37, (see Fig. 3,) provided with a laterally and outwardly projecting arm, 38, which rests against the periphery of a locking-disk, 40, mounted on the shaft 103 of the gear 21 and rigidly secured thereto. The disk 40 is in the shape of a segment of a circle, and its straight edge or chord is provided centrally with a recess,42. for receiving the arm 38 of the lockingwire 37 when the arm 85 of the drop-wire 17 falls into one of the recesses 16 in the wheel J. To the shaft25 is secured an upwardly-projecting curved releasing-wire, 45, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) having a laterally and outwardly projecting arm, 46, which rests against the dropwire 17, and is designed to remove said wire from contact with the barrel-wheel J, as hereinafter described. A laterally-projecting wi re, 47, is also secured to the shaft 25, said wire being adapted to engage a stud, 48, on the gear 50 of the actuating device. A counterbalance, 51, is also attached to the shaft 25, to keep the hook-shaped wires 28 and 29 in position to be engaged by the studs m p on the wheels k l,- but said counter-balance may be omitted, if-desired.

The rocking shaft 25, wires 17, 37, and 47, disk 40, and stud 4S constitute a locking device for the actuating mechanism, and the wires 28 and 29, rocking shaft 25, and wire 45, in combination with the studs m p, constitute a let-oil mcchanismforreleasing the locking device.

The operation of the apparatusis as follows: The clock A and also the spring within the barrel-wheel J are first wound up in the usual manner. It having been previously determined at what hour in the evening it is desired to light the gas, (which will depend upon the length of the day or season of the year,) the hands i on the dial II are set to correspond with the time indicated by the hands of the clock A. This causes the shaft f to be revolved, carrying with it the bracket 1 and the worm-gears kl to be so set or adjusted that the stud m on the gear k will be in position to engage the book 30 of the wire 28 at the time fixed upon for lighting the gas. If the days and nights are practically of thesame lengthas, for instance, in the month of Decemberthe stud p on the gear 1 will then stand diametrically opposite the stud m on the gear k, or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 2,.so that it will engage thehook 78 on the wire29 twelve hours after the stud m has engaged the wire 28, it being understood that the wheels b g make but one revolution in twenty-four hours, as stated. The apparatus having been adjusted as described, if, for example, it is desired to light the gas at 6.45 oclock post meridian, when the clock A has reached this hour, as shown in Fig. 1, its barrel'wheel a will have turned the gears b g in the direction of their arrows (see Fig. 2) and revolve the shaft f by means of the friction-plate h in the direction of the arrow 61. The bracket q, being secured to the shaft f, revolves with it, and as the worms r t are supported on said bracket, connected with each other, and engaged with gears 7.- Z, they will cause said gears to revolve with them from left to right. When the stud m on the wheel k strikes thehook 30 of the wire 28, said wire, being secured to the shaftv 25, is moved outward and turns said shaft f ron left to right, thereby forcing the arm 46 of the wire 45 against the drop-wire 17, disengaging the arm 85 of said wire from the barrel-wheel J, and at the same time removing of its arrow, (see- Fig. 2,) thereby setting in motion the train of gears. The shaft 12 is thereby turned a quartcr-revolution and the valve 75 opened, thus permitting the gas to pass from the pipe 80 to the burner C and become ignited by a spark from the dynamo, which has been meanwhile rotated by the revolution of pinion 19, in a manner that will be readily, obvious without a more explicit description.

It will be understood that the arm 85 on the drop-wire '17 falls into the shallow spaces between the teeth of the wheel J, in the usual manner, and that when said wheel has revolved onequarter of its circumference said arm will drop into one of the deep recesses 16, and thereby permit the locking-wire 37 to lock the disk 40 and stop the mechanism actuated by the wheel J. When, however, the stud m engages the hook 30 on wire 28 and withdraws the arm 85 of the wire 17 from the recess 16 in the wheel J and said wheel commences to turn and has advanced the distanceof one tooth,'the wire 47 on the shaft 25 engages the pin'48 on the wheel 50, thus preventing said wheel from revolving further 6o jointly with said barrel.

until said stud passes the hook 30 of the wire 28. It will thus be seen that the barrel-wheel J is tripped ready to revolve, but held from such revolution by the arm 47 engaging pin 48. When the stud m passes the end of hook 30, the arm 47 is released from engagement with pin 48, and. the uninterrupted movement of barrel-wheel J, and with it the train of gears actuated thereby, commences.

In the morning, when the time arrives to shutoff the gas,the Stud 1; on the wheel I, which during the night has made a half-revolution and engaged the hook 78 on the wire .29, at the proper moment passes the end of said hook, thereby again releasing the barrel-wheel J and allowing it to be revolved another quarter of its circumference in substantially the.

same manner as already described, the valve 75 being closed by this quarter-revolution by means .of the shaft 12, which is revolved con- The spark created by this quarter-revolution obviously has no result, as the gas is shut off.

Theoperation ofthe regulating mechanism referred to is as follows: If the days are increasing in length,the bary is adjusted so that its pin 10 will engage apin z on the left-hand side of the wheel :10 on the worm t, thereby causing to left.

distance between two of its pins z at each revolution of theshaft f, which occursonce in twentyfour hours, as described. The worm t being thus rotated produces a corresponding rotation of the gear Z from left to right a proportionate distance, and at the same time turns the worm r by means of the pinious'w,thereby revol v'i ng the gear it an equal distance from right This gradually brings the studs m p nearer to each other as,they move in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 2, the interval between the time the burner is lighted by means of the stud m and extinguished by means of the stud p and their connecting mechanism, as described, growing proportionately shorter as the studs approach each other. The gears kl and worms 1* t are so constructed that the distance said gears will be revolved at each revolution of the worms will correspond with the variation in the length of the days, thereby compensating for said variation and regulating the lighting and extinguishing of the gas in accordance there with.

it will be understood that at the expiration of six months, or when the days begin to grow shorter, it will be necessary to adjust the bar 3 so that its pin 11 will engage the pins z on the right-hand side of the wheel a: and

The plates G E are dctachably connected by pillars 90 after the manner of connecting-the face and bed plates in ordinary clock-move mcnts.

The dynamo B is disposed oua bracket, 120, which projects horizontally from the support ing-plate D, but may be sustained in any suitable nianner. V

I do not confine myself to the use of an electric dynamo for generating aspark or producing fire to ignite the gas, as that portion of the apparatus which is disposed between the plates (l-.E, in connection with the clock A, is adapted to operate mechanism for producing a spark or fire by percussion, striking a match, 850., as well as by electric action.

It will be understood that the clock A and barrel-wheel J are to be wound up as often as required to run the mechanism continuously.

Having thus explained my invention, what ing journaled loosely upon said shaft f and provided with studs m and p, power-gear you shaft f, meansfor revolving it onceintwentyfour hours, and pins 10' and 11,adapted to en- 6o cess in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25, carrying gage said sprocket-whecl on either side for the purpose set forth, in combination with the wires 28 and 29, adapted to engage said studs, shaft 25, to which said wires are attached, and tripping wires 45 and 47, carried by said shaft 25, as and for the purpose described.

2. The regulating mechanism herein described, comprising the shaft f, journaled in plates G E, bracket q, rigidly secured to said shaft, worms 'r t, journaled in said bracket and provided with intermeshing gears 10, sprocketwheel :12 upon the shaft of one of said worms, gears k I, engaging said worms,the gears being journaled loosely upon said shaft f and provided with studs m and p, power-gear g on shaft f, means for revolving it once in twentyfour hours, dial H, hands 1', carried by said shaft, and the adjustable bar y, provided with pins 10and 11,adapted to engage said sprocketheel for the'purpose set forth, in combination with the wires 28 and 29, adapted to engage said studs, shaft 25, to which said wires are attached, and tripping-wires 45 and 47, carried by said shaft 25, as and for the purpose described.

3. The regulating mechanism herein described, comprising the shaft f, journaled in plates G E, bracket q, rigidly secured to said shaft, wormsr t, journaledin said bracket and provided with intermeshing gears w, sprocketwheel a: upon the shaft of one of said worms, gears k l, engaging said worms, the gears being journaled looselyupon said shaft f and provided with studs m and p, power-gear 9, also journaled loosely on said shaft andmresting against a shoulder, 95, a spring-plate, h, on said shaft next the gear 9, a pin in the shaft for holding said plate and gear in frictional contact, means forrevolving said gear and with it the shaft once in twenty-four hours,- dial H, hands i, carried by said shaft, and the adjust" able bar provided with pins 10 and 11, adapted to engage said sprocket-wheel for the purpose set forth, in combination with the wires 28 and 29, adapted to engage said studs, shaft 25, to which said wires are attached, and tripping-wires 45 and 47, carried by said shaft 25, as and for the purpose described.

4. The gasburner C, valve therein, and rod 12, connected to said valve, in combination with the spring-actuated barrel-wheel J, having deep recesses 16 at quartering points in its circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel, a train of gears driven by said barrel-wheel, a disk, 40, having recess 42 upon the shaft of one of said gears, a shaft, 35, carrying dropwire 17, for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barrel-wheel, and also carrying lockingwire 37, for. simultaneously engaging the rereleasing-wire 45, for tripping the drop-wire 17, and also carrying pendulous wires 28 and 29,and wheelskl, revolving oncein twenty-four hours and carrying studs m 1), located, respectively, thereon and at approximately-opposite points, said studs m and p striking said wires alternately to trip the drop-wire 17 and permita quarter-revolution of the barrel-wheel J, all substantially as described.

5. The gas-burner C, valve 75 therein, and rod 12,connected to said valve, in combination with the spring-actuated barrel-wheel J, having deep recesses 16 at quartering points in its circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel, a train of gears driven by said barrel-wheel, a disk. 40, having recess 42 upon the shaft of one of said gears, a shaft, 35, carrying drop-wire 17, for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barrel-wheel, and also carrying locking-wire 37, for simultaneously engaging the recess in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25, carrying releasingwire 45, for tripping the drop-wire 17, and also carrying pendulous wires 28 and 29, and a regulating mechanism, substantially as described, adapted to trip said wires 28 and 29 alternately for permitting quarter-revolutions of the barrel-wheel J at proper intervals, substantially as specified.

6. The gas-burner C, valve 75 therein, and rod 12, connected to said valve, in combination with the spring-actuated barrel-wheel J, having deep recesses16 at quartering points in its circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel, a train of gears driven by said barrel-wheel, a pin, 48, in one of said gears, a disk, 40, having recess 42 upon theshaft of another of said gears, a shaft, 35, carrying drop'wire 17,

for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barrel-wheel, and also carrying locking-wire 37, for simultaneously engaging the recess in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25, carrying releasingwire 45, for tripping the drop-wire 17, also carrying stop-wire 47, for abutting against said pin 48 to check the movement of the train of gears after it has been started by the tripping-wire, and also carrying pendulons wires 28 and 29, having hooks 30 78 at their ends, and wheels k l, revolving once in twentyfour hours and carrying studs m p, located, respectively, thereon and at approximatelyopposite points, said studs m and p striking said hooks alternately to trip the drop-wire 17, and later disengaging said hooks by passing their ends to release stop-wire 47 and permit a quarter-revolution of the barrel-wheel J, all substantially as described.

7. The gas-burner U, valve 75 therein, and rod 12, connected to said valve, in combination with the spring-actuated barrel-wheel J, having deep recesses 16 at quartering points in its circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel, a train of gears driven by said barrelwheel, a disk, 40, having recesses 42 upon the shaft of one of said gears, a spark-forming device, B, mounted on a shaft carrying a pinion engaging one of said gears and adapted to be operated thereby when the latter is revolved, a shaft. 35, carrying drop-wire 17, for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barre1-wheel, and also carrying locking-wire 37, for simultaneously engaging the recess in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25, carrying releasing-wire 45, for

tripping the drop-wire 17, and also carrying pendulous wires 28 and 29, and wheels k Z, revolving once in twentyfour hours and carrying studs m p, located, respectively, thereon and at approximately-opposite points, said studs m and p striking said wires alternately to trip the drop-wire17 and permit a quarter-revolution of the barrel-wheel J, all substantially as described.

8. The gas-burner C, valve therein, and rod 12, connected to said valve, in combination with the spring-actuated barrel-wheel J, having deep recesses 16 at quartering points in its circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel, a train of gears driven by said barrel-wheel, a spark-forming device, B, mounted upon a shaft carrying a'pinion engaging one of said gears and adapted to be operated thereby when the latter is revolved, a pin, 48, in one of said gears, a disk, 40, having-recess 42 upon the shaft of another of said gears, a shaft, 35, carrying drop-wire 17, for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barrel-wheel, and also carrying locking-wire 37, for simultaneously engaging the recess in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25, carrying releasing-wire 45, for tripping the drop-wire 17, also carrying stop-wire 47, for abutting against said pin 48 to check the movement of the train of gears after it has been started by the tripping-wire, and also carrying pendulous wires 28 and 29, having hooks 30 78 at their ends, and wheels k Z, revolving once in twenty-four hours and carrying studs m 1), located, respectively, thereon and at approximately-opposite points, said studs m and p striking said hooks alternately to trip the drop-wire l7, and later disengaging said hooks by passing their ends to release stop-wire 47 and permit a quarter-revolution of the barrel-wheel J, all substantially as described.

9. The gas-burner C, valve 75 therein, and rod 12, eonnectedto said valve, in combination with a spring-actuated barrel-wheel, J, having deep recesses 16 at quartering points in its-circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel,

a train of gears driven by said barrel-wheel, a pin, 48, in one of said gears, a disk, 40, having recess 42 upon the shaft of another of said gears, a shaft, 35, carrying drop-wire 17,,for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barrelwheel, and also carrying locking-wire 37, for simultaneously engaging the recess in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25, carrying releasingwire 45, for tripping the drop-wire 17, also carrying stop-wire 47 ,for abutting against said pin 48 to check the movement of the train of gears after it has been started by the trippingwire', and also carrying pendulous wires 28 and 29, having hooks 30 78 at their ends, the

volving it once in'twenty-four hours, dial H,

hands'i, carried by said shaft, and the adj ustable bar 3 provided with pins 10 and 11, adapted to engage said sprocket-wheel for the purpose set forth, said studs m and p striking said hooks alternately to trip the drop-wire.

17, and later disengaging said hooks by pass ing their ends to release stop-wire 47 and permit a quarter-revolution of the barrel-wheel J, all substantially as described.

10. The gas-burner C, valve 75 therein, and rod 12, connected to said valve, in combination with the spring-actuated. barrel-wheel J, having deep recesses 16 at quarter-ing points in its circumference, the coupling 76, connecting rod 12 with the axis of said barrel-wheel, a train of gears driven by said barrel-wheel, a spark-forming device, 13, mounted upon a shaft carrying a pinion engaging one of said gears and adapted to be operated thereby when the latter is revolved, a pin, 48, in one of said gears, a disk, 40, having recess 42 upon the shaft of another of said gears, a shaft, 35, carrying drop-wire 17,for engaging said deep recesses 16 in the barrel-wheel, and also carrying locking-wire 37, for simultaneously engaging the recess. in said disk, a rocking shaft, 25,carryiug releasing-wire 45, for tripping the drop-wire 17, also carrying stop-wire 47, for abutting against said pin 48 to check the movement of the train of gears after it has been started by the tripping-wire, and also carrying pendulous wires 28- and 29, having hooks 30 78 at their ends, the shaft f, journaled in plates G -E, bracket q, rigidly secured to said shaft, worms 1 t, journaled in said bracket and provided with intermeshing gears w, sprocket-wheel :0 upon the shaft of one of said worms, gears k l, engaging said worms, the gears being journaled loosely upon said shaft f and provided with studs m and p, power-gear g on shaft f, means for revolving it once in'twenty-four hours, dial H, hands 2, carried by said shaft, and the adjustable bar 11 provided with pins 10 and 11, adapted to engage said sprocket-wheel for the purpose set forth, said studs m and p striking said hooks alternately to trip the drop-wire 17, and later disengaging said hooks by passing their ends to release stop-wire 47 and permit a quarter-revolution of the barrel-wheel J, all substantially as described.

NATHANIEL H. SHAW.

Witnesses:

O. M. SHAW, E. M. SPINNEY. 

